The Request-A-Thon to raise money for Make-A-Wish has always been a highlight of my many years with WZPL, back to the “just Julie,” and “Julie & Steve” days. Dave Smiley & KJ took that foundation and just kept building it higher and higher. The technical and logistical aspects of the show change every year. For example: there were twice as many phone lines this year, and constantly updated video highlights on the web site. But underneath it all is an old-fashioned radio SHOW in the best sense. Entertaining, informing, involving, rewarding in every sense of the word, and not just for the talented people who put it on. Just ask all those Make-A-Wish families. If you helped, thank you.
Speaking of radio WISH’s…there WAS a “WISH” radio in Indianapolis until 1963, when the owners of WISH AM/FM/TV sold off their radio stations. WISH AM 1310 would go on to become WIFE radio, the big AM Top 40 station of the mid 60’s-mid 70’s.
Fun Fact #1: The old WISH Radio featured the same CBS affiliation of the TV station. The new operators dropped the long time CBS Radio News contract November 21, 1963. Timing is everything in broadcasting. The next day, when JFK was shot, a staff member called KLIF Radio in Dallas and got the dial in feed. He taped a mike to the earpiece of the phone and ran the KLIF feed for the 4 days. He taped a note to the phone saying “DO NOT TOUCH.”
Fun Fact #2: The 1440 Meridian Street studios of “13 WIFE” were famous because the DJ worked in the window, visible from the street. Eventually Channel 59 moved into the space, sharing it for awhile in the 80’s with (ta-da!) WZPL when it was still “The Apple.”
Fun Fact #3: WISH FM 107.9 played beautiful music until the mid 70’s. It was actually off the air until a group of broadcasters (including me & Mrs. P., starring as “Jennifer Carr”) brought it back as WTPI in October 1984. And now you know–the Rest Of The Story.
Enough history. Here’s a look behind the scenes of the end of THIS year’s WISH Radio.
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jim says
Ah yes, the “BM” format. Notice how nobody misses it?
Too bad nobody’s made a serious run of 107.9 since WTPI departed.
Curt says
Seriously….is Jennifer Carr of (former) WTPI fame really Mrs. Poteet?
Paul Poteet says
Curt: the silky voiced J. Carr and Mrs. P. are one in the same!